The Portland Museum of Art Campus Unification + Expansion International Design Competition

DESIGN CHALLENGE

The Portland Museum of Art (the PMA), founded in 1882, is Maine’s largest and most visited art institution, and among the oldest museums in America. Located in the heart of downtown Portland, one of the country’s most beloved cities, the museum encompasses a full city block of historically and architecturally significant buildings. The PMA’s world-class collection includes more than 18,000 objects, including 19th-and-20th century American and European art, modern and contemporary art, and iconic works from Maine that highlight the rich artistic traditions of the state and its artists.

The museum has outgrown its current campus due to increased visitation and several major gifts to its collection. The broadening and diversification of the artwork, record attendance prior to the pandemic and community feedback have underlined the need for more space.

The PMA sees this as an opportunity to discover the impact a museum can have when it is built through an inclusive lens. By creating a community hub with myriad collaborative spaces, and focusing on groundbreaking approaches to art, the PMA believes it can become a place where all people feel they belong. More than just a new building, the PMA’s campus unification and expansion is a value proposition, envisioning the monumental positive impact museums can have on their communities.

The institution’s progressive and inclusive outlook on curation, education, and engagement will be reflected through innovative and future-forward architecture. This will ensure the PMA and the region’s future is rooted in diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability. And as a result, the PMA will transform the very nature of what a museum can be.

The PMA’s new museum wing will anchor and integrate the entire campus and double the institution’s existing size. It will be an environmentally and ecologically responsible expansion that will accommodate new collections and major exhibitions, host community events, programs, and performance space for the seeing and making of art, and will consolidate all staff offices.

The museum’s bold and ambitious agenda will physically harness the PMA’s commitments and deep values through an architecture that will renew, revitalize and redefine a museum’s role in society. The PMA is courageous, forward-looking and intent on creating a paradigm shift for museums around the globe.

The Portland Museum of Art Campus Unification + Expansion International Design Competition challenges architects to form a multi-disciplinary team with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability experts, landscape architects and graphic designers to create an inclusive place that champions open expression and makes art accessible to all, a place that delivers on the promise of the PMA’s mission, Art for All.

The PMA imagines an inclusive and iconic Landmark for the Future.

COMPETITION FORMAT

The Portland Museum of Art Campus Unification + Expansion International Design Competition is an open, two-stage selection process.

Stage I: Request for Qualifications (RFQ) invites architects from around the world to form and lead a visionary, multi-disciplinary team of professionals (Design Team), and respond to this RFQ. Upon evaluation of the RFQ submissions, the PMA will select up to four firms and their proposed teams to participate in Stage II.

Stage II: Design Competition invites the selected, shortlisted teams (Shortlist) to develop a concept design for the project as directed by the Design Brief, which will be made available ONLY to the selected Shortlist. All shortlisted teams will receive the same Design Brief with the identical design challenge. 

During Stage II, each participating team will have the opportunity to meet with the PMA leadership on two occasions prior to the final presentation: initially for a site tour and informational meeting in Portland, Maine and again via teleconference at the Stage II midpoint for an interim review. This will provide each team the opportunity to engage in structured dialogue with the PMA leadership to ensure a full understanding of the PMA’s vision and allow the PMA to experience firsthand each team’s collaborative approach and working culture.

Shortlist final submissions will be displayed for three weeks at the PMA in Portland, Maine as well as online on the competition website. Comments from the public will be collected and will only be provided to the Jury. In addition, all finalist teams will be requested to present their concept designs in a public forum to be held at the museum and will be given the opportunity to engage in a Q+A with this audience prior to their presentation to the competition Jury. 

In advance of team presentations to the Jury, the PMA’s independent cost consultant will conduct a rough-order-of magnitude cost review of each team’s submission to determine if it aligns with the PMA’s budget. 

Final selection of the winning Design Team will be made by the Jury.

An honorarium of $50,000 will be paid to each of the shortlisted teams who have met the PMA’s Stage II requirements, payable upon selection of a winning team. No other payment of any kind will be made in respect of any costs associated with or incurred in the preparation and submission of any proposal as part of the Design Competition, including cost of travel to and from in-person interviews or mandatory site visits for shortlisted team members during the Design Competition.

The PMA has engaged the leading independent architect selection firm, Dovetail Design Strategists to develop and lead this Design Competition. Dovetail will be your sole point of contact and representative for the duration of the Design Competition and will be managing all project communication on behalf of the PMA.

ELIGIBILITY

The Portland Museum of Art Campus Unification + Expansion International Design Competition is open to architects from around the world who wish to form and lead a multi-disciplinary Design Team and respond to the RFQ. 

An architect or architecture firm, even those with offices in different locations, may only enter ONCE.

Team associates and consultants including accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability experts, landscape architects, and graphic designers may be on more than one Design Team.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Stage I: Request for Qualifications

• June 1, 2022: RFQ Release
• June 1-June 24, 2022: Q+A Period
• July 1, 2022: Qualifications Due
• Early August, 2022: Shortlist Announced

Stage II: Design Competition (for invited Shortlist only)

• Early August, 2022: Design Brief Release
• August 15, 2022: Site Tour and Informational Meeting
• September 12, 2022: Interim Report Due                               
• September 19, 2022: Interim Presentations and Review (via teleconference) 
• October 28, 2022: Concept Design Due
• Nov. 18-Dec. 9, 2022: Public Display and Public Comment Period
• Early December, 2022: Presentations to Public and Jury
• Late December, 2022: Winning Team Announced

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The PMA is seeking a world-class, architect-led multi-disciplinary team (Design Team) to provide Pre-Schematic and Basic Services for the museum’s campus expansion. It is expected that each Design Team will include leading, innovative accessibility, inclusion, sustainability, landscape architect, and wayfinding graphic design professionals. It is strongly encouraged that the team include knowledge of urban permaculture. Expertise in interiors and furniture design for large-scale cultural buildings will be considered a plus.

In addition, the PMA wishes to raise the national bar for environmental and ecological new architecture. This commission will require a comprehensive approach to energy conservation and overall sustainability including the equitable and just sourcing of materials. 

The PMA is looking for a holistic, collaborative, and creative approach, and capacity to deliver the project. We are interested in an innovative, fresh, and future-forward team that understands how the physical and digital will continue to form our world and are capable of creating a building that is “future-proofed”: ready to handle technological innovations for the next fifty years.

This project requires a highly-qualified, thoughtful, nimble and collaborative team that has collective, deep experience working in the cultural sector and in urban settings. This visionary and diverse team must fully understand the aspirations and complexities of this game-changing project.

The PMA is deeply committed to equity and is seeking a team that reflects the rich diversity of the artists the organization showcases and the audience it serves.

Architects practicing outside of Maine should not include a local architect-of-record or local landscape architect-of-record team member, at this time. This will be a requirement for Shortlist participants during Stage II. The same applies to technical sub-consultants such as civil, structural and MEP engineers, lighting designers, and cost consultants. Please do not include at this time.

Please note that the project scope-of-work will require a robust, integrated Program Verification and Space Needs and Adjacencies Study. 

PROGRAM

Every aspect of the project will be informed by three pillars: community, collection, and campus. The campus unification and expansion will strengthen and sustain the local community and provide the ideal 21st-century place for seeing and making art.

The PMA Campus Expansion will be:

• A premier destination for art and ideas

• A beloved gathering place for conversation and community 

• A flexible space for art and cross-disciplinary performances 

• A transformational force for Maine’s cultural identity and economic success

• Iconic, innovative, state-of-the art, and contemporary

• Accessible and inclusive

• The region’s cultural heart 

• The “coolest spot” in town 

The PMA is excited about the possibilities of an updated physical branding through innovative architecture. Dynamic interaction between people and building is seen as key to the success of the project. The new facility must promote design excellence and harness the deep values and commitments held by the PMA’s constituents and stakeholders.

The PMA understands the museum expansion as integral to Maine’s flourishing hospitality and tourist industry and anticipates that once complete the PMA will receive up to 300,000 visitors in the initial year of operation with a projected annual growth rate of 10%.

It is anticipated that the PMA campus unification and expansion will be 60,000 net square feet plus outdoor public gathering space.

This will include the following program:

Administrative Offices Back-of-House/Prep Space Classrooms Commercial Grade Kitchen Community Gathering Space/Gallery Community Workspace Dedicated Art Circulation Elevator with dedicated Rooftop Access Event Space  Gallery Space Gift Shop  Makers/Studio Space  Meeting Space New Entrance and Multi-Functional Lobby                     

Performance Space Photography Center Public Coat and Bag Storage Public Restrooms Rooftop Restaurant Rooftop Sculpture Park School Lunch Spot (indoor/outdoor) Security Service Elevator/Loading Dock Temporary Exhibition Gallery Universal Accessibility Wayfinding and Signage Workshop Space                 

The connection to Congress Square and a landscape upgrade are included.

SITE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

You may download the Request for Qualifications here. There is no limit on how many times this information is downloaded.

JURY

• Kyo Bannai Board of Trustees
• Mark H.C. Bessire Judy and Leonard Lauder Director
• Milton Curry Della & Harry MacDonald Dean of the University of Southern California School of Architecture, Principal, Milton Curry ProjectStudio
• Eileen Gillespie Vice President, Board of Trustees, Visual Artist
• Cyrus Hagge President, Board of Trustees, Owner, Project Management, Inc.
• Jocelyn Handy Board of Trustees
• Elizabeth Jabar Board of Trustees, Lawry Family Director of Civic Engagement and Partnerships, Colby College
• Bob Ludwig President and Chief Mastering Engineer, Gateway Mastering Studios
• Márcia Minter Board of Trustees, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Indigo Arts Alliance
• Theresa Secord Board of Trustees, Executive Director at Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance
• Jack Soley Board of Trustees, Partner, East Brown Cow
• Monica von Schmalensee Partner, White Arkitekter
• Sara Zewde Founding Principal, Studio Zewde, Assistant Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Design
• Susanna Sirefman, Competition Director and Jury Advisor, President, Dovetail Design Strategists

SUBMIT

*Qualifications are due no later than 3p.m. EST on Friday, July 1, 2022. Your executed online upload form and booklet must be uploaded by that time.

Submit here.

The PMA is using the platform Submittable to accept submissions. Please click the Submit button below and this will lead you to set up a free Submittable account. Once you have set up your account, please sign in and fill out the upload form and upload your submission.

After 3 p.m. EST on Friday, July 1, 2022, the upload portal will be closed and late submissions will not be accepted. Late submissions will not be considered and resubmissions will not be allowed. 

Once you have successfully uploaded the form and the single PDF booklet, maximum 30MB you will receive an email confirmation.

The PMA reserves the right in its sole discretion to issue updates during the competition process. Such updates may be posted on the competition website and therefore made available to all participants equally. Potential competitors are encouraged to check the website prior to submission. 

Please be advised that the submission of your proposal constitutes your agreement to be bound by and adhere to all terms, conditions and rules of the Design Competition. The PMA and Dovetail Design Strategists are not liable for technical failures or electronic errors of any kind, or any inaccessibility or unavailability of any telecommunications service or network hardware or software, in connection with the submission of entries or otherwise. The PMA and Dovetail Design Strategists are not responsible for lost or misdelivered submissions. All uploaded RFQ submission materials will become the property of the PMA and will not be returned.

Click here to learn more about competition details.